The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-11-05
crowd. after which the deserter saun-

crowd, after which the deserter sann- tered towards town. little dreaming that his own base appetite was sharp ening the sword which was suspended over him as by thread.
 1 At ten o'clock that night two indi- viduals were cautiously sneaking to- ward the vessel. and they seemed too eager to board her decks to notice that her position had been changed and 1 that she was now headed toward the outer end of the wharf. Upon their arrival on board they were earnestly cntreated to be very quiet, as the slightest noise was liable to bring the i patrol. discovery of them, and subsc- quent contiscation of sloop and cargo. As the request was backed by a very large goblet of whisky, the twain sat enjoyed the proflered hospitality of the sloop's owners. who were not in a hurry to send them back to their quarters. The darkness prevented the guests perceiving that their host did not imbibe any of the liquid having the knowledge that it had been saf- ficiently doctored for the occasion, the contents of his glass found its way be- 1 tween the chin and his shirt Within halt an hour the deserter was in a 1 helpless state of intoxication, but the liquid was not having the same effect upon his comrade. who seemed to be blessed with a cast-iron interior de- partment, was apparently as sober as a judge and deplored the condition of his companion.
 As the wind was northwest and blowing pretty strong, the sloop owners thought that the moment had arrived to put an end to their stay in Biloxi, and the sudden placing of the muzzle of large revolver to the tenn pie of the sober visitor, induced him to join his comrade in the small apart ment called the cuddy, in the forward part of the sloop. In a few seconds the sail was hoisted, the ropes which kept the vessel to the wharf cut, and the return trip commenced.
 One of the crew, after assisting in hoisting the sail, was stationed above the sober prisoner, informing him that his existence would be shortened by a bullet if he opened his mouth, fnd the second owner guided the little craft to the southeastern point of Deer island, intending, when having passed that point, to run due south for Ship island. The sloop was doing nobly, and nobody in Biloxi seemed to be interested in her departure, but just when rounding the point il large row boat shot out from the shore and hailed the sloop, ordering her to lay to and be interviewed Of course visit ing at that time of night WAS unde- sirable, and the sloop held her way, but soon observed that the rowers had an earnest desire to make the acquaint- ance of the sailing crafts crew as they bent to their oars with will, and hoisted a sail to aid the speed of the boat. For a mile or so the race was kept up, the distance between them becoming shorter at each successive stroke of the oars. They decided upon what they considered the best thing under the circumstances, and the sober passenger was ordered to make him. sell ready to take swim. He objected emphatically, but as a revolver is a very strong argument, and large pine box was to be thrown after him to keep him afoat, he made the plunge, and the crew of the pursued sloop observed with deep satisfaction that the boat picked up the floating sol dier, and in so doing lost distance sufficient to make further pursuit un- productive. The boat gave up the chase, and the sloop with it's prisoner arrived safely at Ship island, where the deserter, awakening from his de- bauch, found that Uncle Sam's officials were terribly in earnest. A court martial was convened, and at o'clock the following evening a convicted traitor of the Union cause paid with his life for an offense committed in the hope of pecuniary gain.-Bosfon Globe.